Ukraine's justice minister is threatening to call for a state of emergency unless protesters leave the ministry building that they occupied during the night.



The seizure of the building early Monday underlined how anti-government demonstrators are increasingly willing to take dramatic actions as they push for the president's resignation and other demands. Protesters now occupy four sizable buildings in downtown Kyiv, including the city hall.


Justice Minister Elena Lukash said early Monday that she would ask the national security council to impose a state of emergency if the protesters don't quit the building. But she did not specify a deadline for leaving.


Imposing a state of emergency likely would cause anger to spike among protesters, who have clashed with police repeatedly over the past week. Three protesters have died.